Today in Great Lakes History
Editor's Note: Here are the Day in
History posts from May 1-11. Thanks to Mike Nicholls for volunteering to keep
this feature updated.
Today in Great Lakes History - May
1
The EDMUND FITZGERALD collided with
the Canadian steamer HOCHELAGA at the mouth of the Detroit River, May 1, 1970,
suffering slight damage at hatches 18 and 19.
The STEWART J. CORT departed Erie
on her maiden voyage at 0400 May 1, 1972. She was delayed by fog in western
Lake Erie and then created a sensation as she passed Detroit/Windsor mid-day
on May 2nd amid throngs of people lining both sides of the Detroit and St.
Clair Rivers, whistling acknowledging salutes on her upbound maiden run.
Scrapping began on the CHICAGO
TRADER at Ashtabula, Ohio on May 1, 1978.
JOHN T. HUTCHINSON (Hull#1010) was
launched at Cleveland, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. on May 1, 1943.
The IRVING S. OLDS sustained an
eight foot long crack across her spar deck and eight inches down one side in a
storm on Lake Huron May 1, 1963.
LIGHTSHIP 103 (HURON) was launched
at Morris Heights, New York by Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp. on May 1, 1920,
for the U.S. Lighthouse Service.
SOO RIVER TRADER brought the first
shipment of bulk cement to open the $18 million St. Lawrence Cement
distribution dock at Duluth on May 1, 1982.
May 1, 1903 -- The ANN ARBOR NO. 1
sighted a burning vessel about 15 miles out of Sturgeon Bay Ship canal, the
Str. JOHN EMERY OWEN. The crew had already been picked off after the fire
started, so the ANN ARBOR NO. 1 put out the fire with her fire hoses. The NO.1
then towed the abandoned steamer to Sturgeon Bay and tied her up at the west
end of the canal.
On 1 May 1875, CONSUELLO (wooden
schooner, 103', 142 Gt., built in 1851 at Cleveland) left Cleveland with a
load of black stone for Toledo. Near Kelly's Island, a storm caused the cargo
to shift and the ship capsized and sank. When she hit bottom, she jerked
upright so the tops of her masts were above the water. Two of the crew, Fred
Donahue and James King, were able to cling to the masts and they were rescued
after about an hour and a half. Five others, including the captain and his
wife, were drowned.
On
1 May 1876, the little steamer W. D. MORTON, which for two years had run as a
ferry between Port Huron's Black River and Sarnia, left her dock for the
Delaware River where she ran on a centennial excursion route for the
exposition held in Philadelphia, PA. She left the Lakes via the Erie Canal.
On 01 May 1858, OGONTZ (wooden
propeller steamer, 343 t, built in 1848 at Ohio City, OH) was purchased by
Capt. A. E. Goodrich and George C. Drew for $5,600. This was the second
vessel in the Goodrich Line. Just two years later, Capt. Goodrich had her
machinery removed and she was sold to W. Crostin for $500. He converted her
to a sailing vessel and she operated for two more years before she foundered
in a storm.
Data from: Jody Aho, Joe
Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships
We Remember series.
This is a small sample,
the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 02
The Stewart J. Cort created a
sensation as she passed Detroit/Windsor on mid-day on May 2, 1972 amid throngs
of people lining both sides of the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, whistling
acknowledging salutes on her upbound maiden run.
ADAM E. CORNELIUS (1) (Hull#53) was
launched at St. Clair, Michigan by Great Lakes Engineering Works, May 2, 1908.
On 2 May 1874, the steamer 8TH OHIO
was chartered by Magner & Company to carry their circus to various Great Lake
ports throughout that season.
The 3-mast schooner EDWARD KELLEY
was launched at Dunford & Leighton's yard in Port Huron on 2 May 1874. She was
built for the Lake Superior Transportation Company of Cleveland, Ohio. A. O.
Miller's coronet band played at the launching.
On 02 May 1903, ACADIA (wooden
schooner-barge, 102’, 188 t, built in 1873 at Smith’s Falls, Ontario) was
carrying coal from Oswego, New York to Kingston, Ontario when she went aground
in a storm near the Duck Islands on Lake Ontario. She was later recovered,
but foundered again in July 1908. Again she was recovered and this time
rebuilt as a barge.
Data from: Jody Aho, Joe
Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great
Lakes Ships We Remember series.
This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more
detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 03
On May 3, 1959, the first large
saltwater vessel to transit the new St. Lawrence Seaway arrived at Duluth. The
RAMON DE LARINAGA took the honors as the first saltiy, passing under Duluth's
Aerial Bridge at 1:16 p.m., followed by a salty named the HERALD sixteen
minutes later.
In 1922 the PERE MARQUETTE 16, as
the barge HARRIET B. collided with the steamer QUINCY A SHAW, and sank off Two
Harbors, Minnesota.
On 3 May 1840, CHAMPLAIN (wooden
side-wheeler, 225 t, built in 1832 at Chippawa, Ontario) was carrying general
merchandise when a storm drove her ashore four miles south of St. Joseph,
Michigan. Although abandoned, she was later recovered and rebuilt.
On 03 May 1883, lightning struck
and set fire to the barge C F ALLEN while she was loading at North Muskegon,
Michigan. She burned to the water’s edge. Her loss was valued at $6,000, but
she was not insured.
Data from: Al Miller,
Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy &
Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more
detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 04
On May 4, 1958, the JOHN SHERWIN
entered service. If the Sherwin remains laid up until May 28, 2005, not
counting the winter lay-ups the vessel has experienced, she will have been in
lay-up for half of her life on the Great Lakes. She last sailed on November
16, 1981.
On her maiden voyage May 4, 1976,
the ST. CLAIR (2) departed Sturgeon Bay for Escanaba, MI to load 39,803 gross
tons of iron ore pellets for Indiana Harbor, IN arriving there on May 5th.
The OREFAX ran aground on May 4,
1963 way off course near Manistique, MI. She was lightered and pulled off by
the Roen Salvage Co. and made her way to Toronto, Ont. where she discharged
her cargo and left for repairs.
The tanker VENUS (2) suffered an
explosion on May 4, 1972 when the crew were cleaning tanks while at anchor
waiting for the fog to lift about seven miles west of the Eisenhower Lock in
the Seaway. Two explosions rocked the ship killing her skipper, Captain
Stanley, and injuring three crewmen.
On 3 May 1840, CHAMPLAIN (wooden
side-wheeler, 225 t, built in 1832 at Chippawa, Ontario) was carrying general
merchandise when a storm drove her ashore four miles south of St. Joseph,
Michigan. Although abandoned, she was later recovered and rebuilt.
On 04 May 1839, ATLAS (wooden
schooner, built in 1836 at Dexter, NY) was carrying building stone from
Chaumont Bay to Oswego, New York when she foundered 6 miles from Oswego. The
steamer TELEGRAPH rushed out of Oswego to assist her but only found a little
flotsam. All five on board were lost: Capt. Asahel Wescott, Ortha Little,
William Ackerman, John Lee and Asa Davis (a passenger).
Data from: Jody Aho, Joe
Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great
Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more
detailed history.
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 05
WILLIAM CLAY FORD (1) (Hull#300)
was launched at River Rouge, Michigan by Great Lakes Engineering Works, May 5,
1953.
The MERCURY (2) collided with the
bulker ERNEST T. WEIR on May 5, 1964 near the mouth of the St. Clair River.
The tanker suffered severe bow damage, the result of her faulty steering gear.
On May 5, 1980 the SHARON grounded
in the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River. She was freed on May 7th and
proceeded to Monroe, MI and was laid up there on May 8, 1980. No repairs were
made and she never sailed again.
On May 5, 1914 the GEORGE F. BAKER
was traveling downbound in Lake Superior in dense fog with 10,500 tons of iron
ore from Ashland, WI. She ran hard aground on Sawtooth Reef off Eagle River,
on Upper Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.
May 5, 1914 - An unusual cargo, two
"Jack Johnsons" (Navy guns) were hauled by the PERE MARQUETTE 17.
The small schooner ST PETER was
loaded with grain when she sank 35 miles from Milwaukee on 5 May 1874. The
crew reached shore in the yawl.
The steam barge KITTIE M. FORBES
was launched in Bay City, MI on 5 May 1883. She was owned by Capt. William
Forbes and named for his daughter. Her keel was laid on 1 December 1882. Her
dimensions were 195' keel, 209' overall, 35' beam and 14' depth. Her engine
was built by Samuel F. Hodge.
On 05 May 1902, MILWAUKEE (steel
propeller freighter, 325’, 3327 gt) was launched at the Chicago Ship Building
Company (hull #55) at South Chicago, Illinois for the Western Transit Co. She
lasted until 1940 when she was scrapped at Hamilton, Ontario.
Data from: Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection,
Historical
Collections of the Great Lakes,
Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more
detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 06
On May 6, 1984 the CANADIAN RANGER
sailed from Port Weller on her maiden voyage to load coal at Toledo, OH.
In 1944 the HILDA (2) and the barge
MAITLAND NO.1 started the rescue operation of freighter GEORGE M. HUMPHREY (1)
which sank in a collision with the D.M. CLEMSON (2) in the Straits of
Mackinac.
This day in 1923 the EDWIN E. SLICK
was struck by the steamer J. LEONARD REPLOGLE in the ice on Whitefish Bay,
Lake Superior.
The HARVEY D. GOULDER entered
service on May 6, 1906.
On May 6, 1934 the ROYALTON (1)
helped rescue the steamer TEN which had lost power in a Lake Superior ice
field and required a tow to safety.
On May 6, 1975 while unloading iron
ore at Conneaut, OH, a leg and bucket from no.2 Hulett gave way and fell into
the RALPH H. WATSON's cargo hold. A crane was rigged to remove the wreckage. A
nine by twelve foot patch was required on her port side tank which was holed
in the accident.
On 6 May 1847, CUBA (wooden
schooner, 89', 139 t, built in 1844 at Peninsula, NY as a brig) was carrying
wheat near Point Breeze, NY in Lake Ontario when she was run down and sunk in
a collision with the steamer GENESEE CHIEF. No lives were lost.
On
6 May 1858, the barkentine E. S. ADAMS began her voyage from Amherstburg,
Ontario to London, England with a load of walnut timber. The transatlantic
portion of the voyage took only 26 days and the vessel was back on the Lakes
in September 1858.
EASTLAND was launched on 06 May
1903 at the Jenks Ship Building Company (Hull #25) at Port Huron, Michigan for
the Michigan Steamship Company. She was christened by Mrs. Frances E. Perene.
Data from: Jody Aho, Joe
Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great
Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more
detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 07
On May 7, 1965, the Cedarville was
struck by the ocean vessel Topdalsfjord in the Straits of Mackinac during
dense fog. The Cedarville sank about forty minutes after the collision with
the loss of ten crewmembers.
ALGOPORT (Hull#217) was launched at
Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., May 7, 1979
The HUTCHCLIFFE HALL entered
service on May 7, 1954.
A.M. BYERS (Hull#448) was launched
May 7, 1910 at Cleveland, Ohio by American Ship Building Co..
May 7, 1903 - The Benton Harbor,
Coloma & Paw Paw Lake Railway was purchased by the Pere Marquette Railroad.
May 7, 1929 - The Pere Marquette
notified Ludington it was interested in buying the frontage on Pere Marquette
Lake that had been used by the Monroe Body Company. The city council asked
$25,000 for the property, and the railroad agreed. Work on the No. 3 slip
began a few months later.
On 7 May 1874, the schooner JENNIE
MATHEWS was launched at Hardison's yard in Port Huron. The launch started very
slowly but with the help of men pulling on ropes, the vessel slid into the
Black River nicely. Her first skipper was Capt. McGifford and her owner was
Mr. Hardison.
On 07 May 1954, official ground
breaking ceremonies were held for the Mackinac Bridge. It was completed three
and a half years later.
Data from: Max Hanley,
Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the
Great Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample,
the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 08
COLUMBIA STAR was christened May 8,
1981.
EDGAR B. SPEER was launched May 8,
1980 at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co., after long delay because
of labor strife.
The FRED R. WHITE, JR. was
christened May 8, 1979 and was named for Oglebay Norton's then vice-chairman
of the board.
On May 8, 1979 the ASHLAND struck
the north entry pier of the Duluth Ship Canal while outbound loaded. Thick ice
blowing in from Lake Superior had interfered with her maneuverability. She
dropped her anchor to lessen the impact but drifted over the flukes ripping a
two by five foot hole in her bottom port side forward. She was inspected and
repaired at the Duluth Port Terminal. One anchor was lost.
The CHAMPLAIN's starboard side was
damaged when she sideswiped the Swedish steamer BROLAND near the lower end of
the St. Clair River cut-off, May 8, 1963.
May 8. 1936 -- The Pere Marquette
Railway Co. announced plans to construct a new million dollar ferry dock at
Milwaukee.
The 3 mast wooden schooner FRANK C.
LEIGHTON was launched at 10:30 a.m. on 8 May 1875 at Dunford & Leighton's yard
in Port Huron, eight months after work on her began. She was launched complete
except for her mizzen mast which was just about ready to go in position. She
was named for Capt. Leighton's son. Her dimensions were 138' keel, 145'
overall, 26' beam and 12' depth. She cost $20,000 and was owned by Dunford &
Leighton.
The 254' wooden freighter AMAZON
was launched at A. A. Turner's yard at Trenton, MI on 8 May 1873.
On 08 May 1929, GEORGE W. PARKER
wooden propeller sandsucker, 105’, 143 gt, built in 1903 at Marine City, MI,
formerly L. G. POWELL) was destroyed by fire and sank in the channel 6 miles
south of Algonac, Michigan. Her crew escaped in the yawl.
Data from: Max Hanley,
Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II
and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample,
the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 09
The Saginaw was launched May 9,
1953 as the John J. Boland (Hull#417) at Manitowoc, Wisconsin by Manitowoc
Shipbuilding Co.making way for the keel of the Detroit Edison (2) to be laid.
On May 9, 1951 the CLIFFS VICTORY
arrived at the South Chicago yard of the American Ship Building Co. completing
her 37 day, 3,000 mile journey from Baltimore. There her deck houses, stack,
masts, deck machinery, rudder and propeller were installed and the floatation
pontoons removed.
The ROBERT C. NORTON (2) was laid
up on May 9, 1980 for the last time at the Hans Hansen Dock at Toledo.
PETER REISS (Hull#522) was launched
at Superior, Wisconsin by Superior Ship Building Co., May 9, 1910.
On 9 May 1864, AMAZON (2-mast
wooden brig, 93', 172 t, built in 1837 at Port Huron as a schooner) was
carrying coal from Cleveland for Lake Superior when she went out of control in
a storm just as she was leaving the St. Clair River for Lake Huron. She was
driven ashore near Point Edward, Ontario and was broken up by the wave action.
At the time of her loss, she was considered the oldest working schooner on the
Lakes.
May 9, 1900 -- The carferry PERE
MARQUETTE (15) began carferry service to Milwaukee.
On Friday night, 9 May 1873, the
schooner CAPE HORN collided with the new iron propeller JAVA off Long Point on
Lake Erie. The schooner sank quickly. The only life lost was that of the cook.
On 09 May 1872, the CUBA (iron
propeller bulk freighter, 231’, 1526 gt) was launched at King Iron Works in
Buffalo, New York for the Holt and Ensign Commercial Line. Innovations in her
design included water-tight compartments for water ballast, 4 water-tight
bulkheads that could be closed if the hull were damaged, and a new fluted
signal lamp that could be seen for 13 miles. She was powered by two 350 HP
engines. She was a very successful vessel and lasted until 1947 when she was
scrapped. She was renamed IONIC (1906) and MAPLEBRANCH (1920).
Data from: Max Hanley,
Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II
and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample,
the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history
Today in Great Lakes
History - May 10
101 Years ago today the steamer
COLUMBIA (Hull#148) was launched by the Detroit Ship Building Co., Wyandotte,
Michigan. The steamer was built for day excursions between Detroit and Bob-Lo
Island. The vessel has been in lay-up since September 2, 1991 at Nicholson’s
Terminal.
On May 10, 1981, the PAUL R.
TREGURTHA entered service. She became the largest vessel on the Great Lakes at
that time, and at least in the last 130 years, she has held the honor of being
the largest vessel on the Great Lakes longer than any other vessel.
On 10 May 1858, LEMUEL CRAWFORD (3
mast wooden bark, 135', 450 t, built in 1855 at Black River, OH) was carrying
wheat from Chicago to Buffalo. She ran into a heavy gale and went out of
control near Pelee Passage and struck a reef 1 1/2 miles off East Sister
Island in Lake Erie. She began to sink immediately and the 13 onboard
scrambled up her masts and lashed themselves to her rigging. After two days,
they were finally rescued by the tug R.R. ELIOTT out of Detroit.
May 10, 1922 -- The ANN ARBOR NO. 4
ran aground at Green Isle. She was released with no damage.
The first Welland Canal was opened
between St. Catharine's and Lake Ontario on 10 May 1828. The first vessel to
navigate this route was the schooner WELLAND CANAL. This was a new vessel
having been launched at St. Catharine's on 24 April 1828.
On 10 May 1898, ISAAC LINCOLN
(wooden propeller freighter, 134’, 376 gt) was launched at Anderson’s yard in
Marine City, Michigan for A. F. Price of Freemont, MI and Capt. Egbert of Port
Huron, MI. She cost $40,000. She lasted until 1931 when she was abandoned.
Data from: Max Hanley,
Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II
and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series
This is a small sample,
the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history
Today in
Great Lakes History - May 11
On May 11, 1953, the Henry
Steinbrenner went down in Lake Superior near Isle Royale with 17 of her 31
crewmembers. The storm followed an unseasonably warm and humid stretch of
weather in northern Minnesota for that time of year which fueled the storm's
fast growth. The high temperature of 87 degrees set in Grand Marais, Minnesota
on May 8, 1953, still stands as that town's all-time record high for the month
of May, and it is just eight degrees shy of the town's all-time record for any
month.
The 144', 3-mast, wooden bark JESSE
HOYT was launched at East Saginaw, Michigan by Smith & Whitney on 11 May 1854.
Later in her career, she was converted to a schooner and lasted until 1896
when she sank in Lake Michigan in a collision.
The A WESTON (wooden steam barge, 164', 511 gt) left Mount Clemens, MI on her
maiden voyage on 11 May 1882. She was built by William Dulac. Her hull was
painted black. She was powered by a single 28" x 32" engine and she was
designed for the lumber trade. She was sold Canadian in 1909 and was renamed
CONGERCOAL. She lasted until she burned to a total loss at Fair Haven, NY on
10 May 1917.
On 11 May 1886, OSSIFRAGE (wooden
propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 123’, 383 gt) was launched by F.
W. Wheeler (Hull #26) at W. Bay City, Michigan. She was rebuilt a number of
times and ended her days on salt water. While being towed in the
Northumberland Strait in the Atlantic Ocean, she struck a shoal and foundered
in September 1919.
Data from: Jody Aho, Joe
Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the
Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.
The Detroit Free Press and the Duluth Evening Herald.
This is a small sample,
the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history
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